Just by chance today, I happened to stumble across ESPN’s live coverage of the Little League Senior Softball World Series this afternoon – during the bottom of the seventh inning. At that time, the game was tied. Puerto Rico had runners on second and third with one out. New Jersey was having a team huddle on the mound – to discuss how to handle the situation.

The next batter for Puerto Rico hit a grounder to second – and the second baseman for New Jersey fielded the ball…but she threw it to first base to retire the batter…as the winning run scored (from third).

The ESPN announcers quickly commented…wondering why the second baseman didn’t make a throw home…to try and cut off the winning run. But, they didn’t get a chance to get too far into it…because the broadcast was ending.

At that time, all I could think of was “Wow. What a terrible way to lose a close and important ballgame.”

Later, I watched the Yankees lose to the Angels today. It was just like watching New Jersey against Puerto Rico all over again…

~~~Even the Angels’ Torii Hunter was stunned by the ending, saying half the players didn’t realize the game was over. He said of Cano’s failure to get to the ball: “That’s their team, man. That’s their problem. We were wondering that, too. I’m glad that’s not my team. If it was, we’d probably be in here arguing right now.” ~~~